New census data shows that 15.9 percent of Silicon Valley residents rank in the richest 5 percent of the country - bringing home at least $191,469. That makes the region No. 2 nationwide for wealth concentration.

The San Jose metro area, which includes Santa Clara and San Benito counties, was second only to the Connecticut suburbs outside of New York City, where 17.9 percent of households were in the top 5 percent of income earners. The Washington, D.C. metro region was No. 3, followed by a tie for No. 4 between San Francisco and New York City, where 10 percent of earners were in the top 5 percent.

The new Census data calculated the richest 5 percent making $191,000 or more from 2006-2011, but that prosperity is not widely shared.

Median income in Silicon Valley hit an 11-year low during 2011, falling to $84,724, according to a report released last week by local economic think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley.

Nationwide, Reuters points out that median income fell 1.5 percent during 2011 as a result of increasing income inequality during the recession.

Lauren Hepler is the economic development reporter at the Silicon Valley Business Journal.

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